Solar panels cover sections of a home’s roof alongside a screened swimming pool. Solar United Neighbors is organizing a free solar co-op for Lee and Collier county residents, offering group purchasing opportunities and guidance on installation costs.
Solar panels cover sections of a home’s roof alongside a screened swimming pool. Solar United Neighbors is organizing a free solar co-op for Lee and Collier county residents, offering group purchasing opportunities and guidance on installation costs.
Solar-curious area residents are forming a group to explore whether “going solar” makes financial sense for each member individually — and to leverage group buying power to secure favorable deals on installation costs.
The latest Southwest Florida Solar Co-op, organized by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Solar United Neighbors, or SUN, offers solar education and potential discounts on systems for individuals, small businesses and nonprofits in Lee and Collier counties.
With their high upfront costs, solar arrays and the battery backup systems that make them a resilient source of energy may take years to pay off but offer significant long-term savings.
Co-ops, along with federal, state and local incentives, are a means for some to bring costs in line with their financial goals.
Congress ended one of the biggest discounts in recent years, a federal tax credit on residential systems, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
“That was a big factor for a lot of people,” SUN Florida Program Associate Mia Brady said. “But like anything else, the market takes dips and highs.”
It also could make SUN’s effort a timely discount for people who are weighing the costs of installing a system on their roof.
The co-op is free to join and does not obligate members to make purchases. As SUN promotes the co-op, it is holding two Solar 101 online information sessions on Nov. 16 and Dec. 10 from 6 to 7 p.m. SUN also extended its original signup deadline from the end of January to Feb. 26, 2027.
It’s the fourth area co-op organized by SUN, which promotes solar energy use and acts as a consumer advocate. The nonprofit estimates that about 100 Lee and Collier families have used the group to purchase solar systems, saving them a combined $3 million in energy costs over the life of their systems.
The city of Sanibel is one of SUN’s partners in the co-op as part of its effort to promote energy resiliency.
“Sanibel is excited to partner with SUN on the SWFL Solar Co-op,” Sanibel Mayor Mike Miller said in a statement. “Bringing education and reduced cost renewable energy to our community is the first step in implementing our Strategic Energy Plan to increase island resilience.”
Solar panels are installed on a residential rooftop. A new Southwest Florida Solar Co-op aims to help homeowners in Lee and Collier counties reduce upfront installation costs through group purchasing.
While Sanibel is promoting resiliency, people in the co-op purchase systems for a variety of reasons. For many, it comes down to a financial calculation.
Solar panels and battery backup systems can cost tens of thousands of dollars, whether paid for in cash, through a loan or a lease. People typically pay off systems in seven to 10 years, according to SUN.
“Solar definitely is an investment,” Brady said. “The best way to get the most savings is to pay cash, but obviously that’s not attainable for a lot of folks.”
Climbing utility rates also have generated recent interest in going solar, Brady said. The investment may save people thousands of dollars over the life of their system, but that depends on whether their roof gets enough sunlight, how much energy they use and what type of system they buy.
The co-op offers members a free assessment of their roof and an individual analysis of solar savings, including how a system would affect their electric bill, Brady said.
After the membership signup period ends, the co-op solicits bids from installers. A co-op member selection committee reviews the bids. Installers then develop proposals for each individual member to decide whether to move forward with a purchase.
Besides Sanibel, a collection of nonprofits has joined SUN’s latest co-op effort, including All Faiths Unitarian Congregation, Audubon Western Everglades, Committee of the Islands, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, SanCap Resilience, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and Sierra Club Calusa Group.
SUN is holding two Solar 101 online information sessions Nov. 16 and Dec. 10 from 6 to 7 p.m. More information and an RSVP page for the events may be found at https://www.mobilize.us/solarunitedneighbors/event/1034656/.
Your comment has been submitted.
Reported
There was a problem reporting this.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
